The ongoing debate around the national trust charter application from World Liberty Financial, a crypto company linked to Donald Trump and his family, has intensified. During a House Financial Services Committee hearing, US Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould faced scrutiny from Representative Gregory Meeks regarding potential conflicts of interest tied to the Trump family's financial ties.
The application, submitted in January, has drawn considerable criticism from Democratic lawmakers who argue it poses ethical concerns. Meeks accused Gould of acting as "Trump’s fixer" and urged that World Liberty undergo the same rigorous evaluation as other applicants. Gould countered by stating that the pressure he has received primarily stems from Meeks, emphasizing that he has not been directed by Trump to favor the application.
Since taking office in July 2025, Gould has overseen the approval of several national trust charters for other crypto firms, including Coinbase and Ripple. The contentious exchanges during the hearing reflect the broader political tensions surrounding regulatory oversight in the cryptocurrency sector.